The blast extinguished this bright flame of talent

The 26/7 blasts had claimed not only many innocent lives, but also destroyed many a dream and aspirations.

One of those unfortunate victims, whose hopes of making it big was cut short, was 22-year-old Chandan Goswami, a promising third-year Geology student in MG science college, who was a victim of the blast that occurred at the Civil hospital.

And with his death, things have changed drastically at his home on the Civil hospital campus. With blurred vision, a lonely mother today waits for her son to return from college, like always, in time  — only to give in to tears with the numb realisation that he will never return back again.

Between tears, Lalitaben Goswami, Chandan’s mother, said: “The state and the central government have given lakhs of rupees as compensation; but that will not return me my son. We had also purchased an apartment planning to shift there once Chandan gets married, but have sold it off after his death.”

Bhalchandra Goswami, Chandan’s father said, “We could not come out of the trauma and July is especially unbearable as the disaster had taken place in this month. As the deadly date (26/7) is drawing nearer the pain levels have also become agonisingly traumatic.”
Very quite by nature, Chandan was not the one to fly off the handle easily. Even doctors on the campus knew him well and always asked about him.  Chandan also nurtured dreams of going abroad for further studies, a heartbroken mother confided. 

In midst of all the pain, however, there’s also some joy — that Chandan’s name is not only part of treasured memories, but also a part of what he loved most — academic activities. Being one of the most popular and talented students of the college, the MG science college management has decided to organise a state-level paper reading on Geology on July 26 in his memory.

The activity that was initiated last year at the college level has already shaped up as a state-level programme in which student from the department in other universities across the state including
MS University, Kutch University and Gujarati University have been invited to participate.

While recalling about his student, Chandan, principal of the college, Dr BK Jain said, “He was a very bright and talented boy with a sparkling personality. His mere presence was enough to make people feel positive.”

Stating that it is because of his participation in academic activities as well as acknowledging his leadership qualities and the supreme sacrifice that he made while helping blast victims, the college have undertaken this annual paper reading conference to keep Chandan’s memories alive, the teacher said.

The college has also plans of doing the same with cricket in the college as Chandan was a very talented cricket player and was part of the college’s cricket team.